Automatic flood-gate.



J; A. BOLLING.

" AUTOMATIC FLOOD GATE.

APPLICATION FILED DBO. 28, 1907.

Patented Aug. 10, 1909.

q/vimeoszo J. A. BOLLING. AUTOMATIC FLOOD GATE.

APPLICATION FILED D110. 28, 1907. 930,829. Patented Aug. 10, 1909.

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UNITED STATES rATEN OFFICE.

JOHN A. BOLLING, OF FORT OROOK, NEBRASKA.

AUTOMATIC FLOOD-GATE.

Application filed December28, 1907. Serial No. 408,427.

swift current caused by a rising stream of water to prevent the gate from injury, and further to relock itself automatically upon resuming its normal position consequent upon the fall of the water.

The invention consists in certain novel features of construction, arrangements and combination of parts as will be hereinafter fully described and claims.

Referring to the accompanying drawings forming a' part of this specification, wherein like characters of reference denote similar parts throughout the several views: Figure 1, is a side elevation of my automatic flood gate locked in its normal position by my improved mechanism. Fig. 2, is an enlarged vertical sectional view taken on line XX of Fig. 1. This view also shows the gate in dotted lines as it would appear in case of high water having a swift current. Fig. 3, is a fragmentary View in detail showing the locking and releasing means. Fig. 4, is a detail of the locking latch.

Referring to the drawings the reference numeral 1, designates a pair of oppositely disposed upright supporting posts connected at their upper ends by means of the crosspiece 2. Dependingfrom the upper crosspiece 2, is the flood gate proper A, which is swingingly connected thereto by means of a plurality of suitable hinges 8. The flood gate proper designated A, consists of the end pieces 4, and the top and bottom crosspieces 5 and 6. Cross-piece 6, it will be observed is not connected at the extreme lower ends of the cross-pieces 4, but a suitable distance therefrom as clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The body of tne gate proper is pointed out in the appended formed by means of a plurality of spaced slats or vertically arranged boards 7, to allow the water to flow through the gate in case the current is not swift enough to release the gate from its locked position.

7 Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 10, 1909.

Secured to one side of the gate and upon the cross-piece 6,.isa plurality of bearings 8, adapted to receive the locking and re leasing rod, which consists of two rods connected at their inner ends by means of a threaded collar 10 whereby the rod may be lengthened or shortened in case the uprights or posts 1, should at any time change their distance from expansion or shrinkage caused from the posts getting wet and drying out. Secured 'to the rods 9, by means of set screws 11, are the depending straps 12, to which is secured the dished rod operating plate 13, the object of which will be hereinafter more fully described. The ends of the rods 9, it will be observed are bent rearwardlyas at 14, (Fig. 2) and then outwardly as at 15. Ends 15, are received in the recess 16, of the locking latch 17, thus forming a locking means for thegate when in its normal position. The locking latches are pivotedto the inner faces of the posts 1, by means of the pins 18, and are protected from weeds etc., by means of the metal hood or shield 19, which is also secured to the inner faces or sides of the posts or uprights 1. The locking latch 17, is provided with a forwardly projecting nose 20, having an upwardly inclined curved under face 21, as clearly shown in Figs. 2 and 4. The rear ends of the latches 17,.engage the shields 19, as clearly shown in Fig. 4, thereby preventing the forward end thereof from dropping downwardly past its normal position which is horizontal.

The operation of the device is as follows: First the direction of the flow of water is indicated by the arrow in Fig. 2. When the current is sufficiently strong in force to overcome the gravity of the metal plate 13 the free or lower end is pushed to the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2, thereby releasing ends 15 of rods 9, from the recess in the locking latches 17, thus allowing the gate to swing outwardly and upwardly and float on the water as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2. When the water falls sufliciently or returns to its normal height, the gate will return by gravity to its normal position which is practically vertical as shown in Fig. 2. As the gate returns to its normal position the ends 15, of the rods 9, strike the curved under faces of the locking latches 17, thereby raising the latches to allow the ends 15, to find theirv way back to the recesses 16, thereby relocking the gate.

It will be readily seen that I provide a gate which is exceedingly simple in construetion, inexpensive in manufacture, strong and durable, yet eflicient and automatic in its workings.

Having thus descr bed my invention, what I clalm 1s:

1. The combination, witlra-'swinging gate said lockinga'nd releasing rod, a pivotally held latch secured to the supporting'frame adjacent each end of said rod, said latches being adapted to :engage theends of said rod when in a locked position, and means se'curedtosaid supporting frame for protecting said latches.

2. The combination, with a. swinging flood gate and supporting frame, of a pair of'rods journaled near the lower end of said swinging-flood gatehaving their ends bent in the form of an L, a pivotally held latch secured to the supporting frame adjacent the L- shaped ends of said rods, said latches being adaptedtoengage said L-shaped ends When the gateis in its closed or locked position, a shieldsecured to said frame adjacenteach latch,:and means for'norm-ally holding said latches in=a horizontal position.

3. The combination, with a swinging flood gate and supporting frame, of a pair of rods journaled near the lower edge of said flood gate, L-shaped ends integral with the said rods means for horizontally adjusting said rods, a latch pivotally held to the supporting frame adjacent each of said L-shaped ends, a dished metallic plate adjustably securedto-said'rods, and a shield securedto the supporting frame adjacent each of said latches for protecting the same.

4. The combination, with a swinging flood gate and support-ing frame, of a pair of horizontally disposed rods journaled near the lower edge of said'fiood gate, said rods having L-shaped outer ends, an adjustable collar adaptedto receive the inner ends of said rods, a dished metallic plate adjustably secured to said rods, a latch pivotally held to said supporting frame adjacent each of said L-shaped ends, said latches being adapted to engage said L-shaped ends when the swinging flood gate is in its closed position, and a shield secured to said supporting frame adjacent each of said latches for protecting the same.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to the specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

1A. Vitnesses PHILIP. C. LIEBER,

GEORGE-H. CORDES. 

